It seems like such a story would be boring. Two Germans we might be vaguely aware of, each taking very different approaches to discovering secrets of the earth. The novel, Measuring the World by German author Daniel Kehlmann. No, I don’t read German. Thankfully, this book is translated into English. And we’re fortunate to have it!

Alexander von Humboldt is the world-traveling explorer seeking out truths of the earth by climbing the highest mountains, venturing into the deepest jungles, and journeying across the roughest seas. Along the way, with great determination and significant risk to his well-being, he collects, measures, and records every detail.

Carl Friedrich Gauss is a child prodigy math genius exploring the world using his brain. He rarely ventures far physically yet becomes the greatest mathematician since Newton. Like von Humbolt, he notices every minute detail. Unlike him, however, Gauss has a penchant for women.

The novel takes the reader through a luscious journey showing the contrasts and similarities of these two men. We see the human side of everything they do, their interactions with others. Scientific discovery woven with the real world of just living. The fascinations. The impatience with other people. The gritty determination. The solitude. The joys of discovery. The sorrows of aging. Kehlmann provides a fantastic narrative, laced with humor and emotion. And plenty of interesting geography!